A Complete Guide On List Of MLA Works Cited

Do not let a missing comma or a misplaced period ruin your perfect research paper. We have prepared a complete guide on MLA Works Cited for you to check and create the perfect list for your paper or case study.

What Is MLA Works Cited?

MLA stands for Modern Language Association, and the MLA Works Cited page is an essential part of the MLA citation style, which is commonly used in the humanities (literature, philosophy, history, sociology, and others). It includes a list of all the sources that you have referenced in your document. This way, readers can easily find and verify the materials you use.

The MLA Citation Works Cited page allows you to give credit to the authors and researchers. Through proper citation, you can avoid plagiarism and provide transparency and accountability in your writing.

Difference Between Works Cited and Bibliography

Both the Work Cited and bibliography pages serve a similar purpose. However, they are not the same. In Works Cited, you list only the sources that you have cited in the body of your text through techniques like paraphrasing and quoting.

On the other hand, a bibliography may include additional sources that you may have read or consulted during your research but have not directly cited in your paper.

General Formatting Guidelines For MLA Works Cited

Before we discuss the templates for MLA Works Cited, let’s first see the general guidelines that you should follow to draft the perfect list.

• Use 1-inch margins on all sides of the page.
• The preferred font is Times New Roman in size 12.
• Your entire Works Cited should be double-spaced.
• The entries must be aligned to the left with a hanging indent. This means that for every entry, the first line of the citation should be flush with the left margin. Any subsequent lines should be intended by half an inch.
• The Works Cited page should be numbered, and the page number should appear in the top right corner.
• The title of the page should be Works Cited. It should be in the centre without bold, italic, or underline.
• Entries should be added in alphabetical order.

Elements Of MLA Works Cited

The structure of sources mainly includes nine core elements, with clear punctuation rules, that are discussed below.

• Author

This is where you include the author’s name in the format: last name, first name. Here are some examples and use cases for multiple authors.

• One author: David, Joseph
• Two authors: David, Joseph and Leonard Hofstader
• Three or more authors: David, Joseph, et al.

In case there is no author, you can start the citation with the title of the source.

• Title Of Source

For standalone work, such as books and films, italicise the title. You have to use quotation marks for smaller works within a large container, including articles and chapters.

• Title Of Container

A container refers to the larger work that holds the source, such as the Journal of Modern History, a journal containing an article or a website containing a blog post.

• Other Contributors

If someone else has contributed to your work, like editors or translators, you can use phrases like edited by or translated by to specify their role.

• Version

Here, you have to mention if the source is a part of a specific edition or version.

• Number

Include volume and issue numbers for journals, episodes, chapters, shows, etc.

• Publisher

This includes the name of the company responsible for publishing the work. Do not add publisher details for self-published platforms like YouTube. E.g. Penguin Books or Netflix.

• Publication Date

You have to provide the date in as much detail as possible. If available, do add the year, month, and day, like 15 Mar. 2021 or 2020 (just the year).

• Location

Mention where you found the source. Include page numbers, URLs, DOI, or physical locations. Use “pp.” for multiple pages and “p.” for a single page.

MLA Works Cited Example: pp. 123-130.

Types Of Sources & Citation Templates

There are different types of sources that require specific MLA Work Cited formats. Here are the most common types and how you can add them to the MLA Works cited list.

How To Work Cite A Book MLA

Author’s Last Name, First Name. Title of Book. Publisher, Year of Publication.

Journal Article

Author’s Last Name, First Name. “Title of Article.” Title of Journal, vol. number, no. number, Year, pages. Database Name, DOI or URL.

Website

Author’s Last Name, First Name. “Title of Web Page.” Website Name, Publisher (if applicable), Date of Publication, URL.

Play

Author’s Last Name, First Name. Title of Play. Editor (if applicable), Publisher, Year

Poem

Author’s Last Name, First Name. “Title of Poem.” Title of Book or Collection, edited by Editor’s Name, Publisher, Year, pages.

Short Story

Author’s Last Name, First Name. “Title of Story.” Title of Collection, edited by Editor’s Name, Publisher, Year, pages.

Movie

Title of Movie. Directed by Director’s Name, performances by Main Actors, Production Company, Year.

TV Show

“Episode Title.” Title of Series, created by Creator’s Name, performance by Lead Actors, season number, episode number, Production Company, Year. Streaming Service, URL.

YouTube Video

Author’s Last Name, First Name. “Title of Video.” YouTube, uploaded by Channel Name, Date, URL.

Newspaper Articles

Author’s Last Name, First Name. “Title of Article.” Title of Newspaper, Date, pages.

Dictionary Entry

“Entry Name.” Title of Dictionary, Edition, Publisher, Year.

Interview

Interviewee’s Last Name, First Name. Interview. By Interviewer’s Name, Date.

PowerPoint

Author’s Last Name, First Name. “Title of Presentation.” Microsoft PowerPoint Presentation, Date.

Image

Artist’s Last Name, First Name. Title of Image. Year, Medium, Museum/Collection, Location.

MLA Works Cited Song

Artist’s Last Name, First Name. “Title of Song.” Title of Album, Record Label, Year.

Podcast

Host’s Last Name, First Name. “Title of Episode.” Title of Podcast, season number, episode number, Publisher, Date, URL.

TED Talk

Speaker’s Last Name, First Name. “Title of Talk.” TED, Date, URL.

PDF

Author’s Last Name, First Name. “Title of Document.” Publisher, Year. PDF file.

Common Mistakes To Avoid In MLA Works Cited

Some of the most common mistakes students and writers make when formatting their MLA works cited page are discussed below, along with how to avoid them.

FAQs